On disc: Cain's Offering

 
 Gather The Faithful
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Gather The Faithful
 
- Philip Thelen -
 
 

Gather The Faithful

(Frontiers - 2009)



 
 

 

In 2007 Jani Liimatainen left Sonata Arctica and now he is back with Cain's Offering! He is responsible for the music, the band is his brain child. He gathered the faithful of Finnish melodic power metal to create something special. With singer Timo Kotipelto, bassist Jukka Koskinen (Norther, Wintersun) and his former Sonata Arctica band mate Mikko Harkin he recorded Gather The Faithul. On drums you hear Jani Hurula.

With the fast My Queen Of Winter they kick off. A catchy fast one with a modern touch and partly neo-classical influences. They slow down a bit for More Than Friends, here the keyboard is a bit more prominent. The song has some hard rock elements which are combined with heavy riffs. The keyboard at Oceans Of Regret has an 80's pop appeal, but then they speed up and the song becomes a fast melodic track and after a break they offer a mid-paced passage where Timo Kotipelto can shine. Symphonically they start into the title track Gather The Faithful. A heavy, symphonic mid-paced instrumental rocker with an epic touch - and some progressive elements. At the balladesque Into The Blue Timo Kotipelto is back. The fast Dawn Of Solace could have been on a Sonata Arctica album as well. Different facets they show at Morpheus In A Masquerade which is a melodic rocker with a happy vibe - and heavy modern riffing as well as acoustic guitar parts. The closer is Elegantly Broken which sounds quite familiar... Reminds me partly of some 80's tune. Anyway, the piano-based ballad is a could way to lead out of Gather The Faithful.

Cain's Offering are a treat for fans of Sonata Arctica, Stratovarius and other melodic power metal bands. Actually I think they are best when they reduce the speed a bit, but due to the different elements Jani Liimatainen use the album offers more variety.
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Gather The Faithful

(Frontiers - 2009)



 
 

 

Cain's Offering is the new band of five musical masterminds. There is no other than founder Jani Liimatainen on guitars (ex-Sonata Arctica, ex-Altaria), Mikko Harkin on keys (ex-Sonata Arctica), Timo Kotipelto at the vocals (Stratovarius, Kotipelto), bassist Jukka Koskinen (Norther, Wintersun) & Jani Hurula (Paul DiAnno). Five masterminds from Finland!

Ok, lets gather the faithful! The album starts with My Queen Of Winter, a really up-tempo power melodic song - as most of the whole album. It is ass-kicking, powerful and with great melodies! After that, More Than Friends awaits with an classical orientated, progressive chorus and heavy verses. Oceans Of Regret is a six minute melodic metal track. I think, NOW every fan of powerful, melodic heavy metal will love this band! Jani shows not only his guitar-skills, for that he is known as a really versatile guitar player, but also his song writing skills, because he composed the whole album! The title track Gather The Faithful is an epic instrumental song with a great orchestra line in the beginning and great progressive riffing. With Into The Blue Timo Kotipelto can show his great vocal variations on this beautiful ballad. On Dawn Of Solace it is time to wreck your neck! Double keyboard / guitar riffs during the intro and doublebass attacks during the whole song is inviting to bang your head! Thorn In My Side is a very straight forward song, based on guitar riffs. Morpheus In A Masquerade starts with strings and accoustic guitars - and turns again to great riffs. It has a very hopeful, happy melody. The following Stolen Waters invites you again to bang your head. And finally (sadly) the last song: Elegantly Broken. It's another ballad. Only with vocals and piano. Really nice.

Well, to describe the sound of this material: The production is more than well done! Great guitar sounds, fat drums etc. And what about influences? For me as passionate Sonata Arctica & Stratovarius fan, I have to say: Hell, this debut rocks! I don't know how to explain. It does sound like a mixture of old Sonata Arctica, new Stratovarius and a breeze of Jani himself! And every single musician does contribute to the whole sound! It is the whole package! I advise every fan of Sonata Arctica, Stratovarius and melodic metal in general, to listen to this album! You can listen to snippets on their official homepage.
 
 










Philip Thelen


  
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